State Partnership Program

Established in 2003, the goal of the State Partnership Program is to establish broad reaching, friendly ties between partner states and partner countries at all levels of society utilizing the National Guard as the catalyzing force and means of support.

September 2016 marked the 25th anniversary of Tajikistan’s independence, and the partnership between the Virginia National Guard and Tajikistan is in its 14th year. As part of the SPP, the Virginia National Guard regularly conducts information exchanges on a variety of subjects related to security and emergency response operations. The Guard also facilitates trips from Tajikistani officials to the United States.

Officers from the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense who specialize in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives response operations conducted an information exchange with personnel for the Virginia National Guard’s 34th Civil Support Team Feb. 21-22, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The exchange was part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program that links states and partner nations in support of mutual interests, and their visit also included a tour of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and meeting with officials from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

SPP News

Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett claim top honors at the 2023 Virginia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition March 19, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 329th’s Spc. Jared Bergman won Soldier of the Year, while MTC’s Staff Sgt. Dan Abbott was named Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Pfc. Mercer Love and Staff Sgt. Jake Harvey, both assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, were named runners-up. Warrant Officers Saidamir Isramov and Khamza Sharifov, soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan participating in the BWC in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, and their interpreter Khurshed Zakharov were also recognized during the awards ceremony. The four-day event included a swim event, Army Warrior Tasks, a written exam, a physical fitness challenge, an obstacle course, land navigation, a ruck march, a three-gun event and an appearance board. Bergman and Abbott will represent the VNG at the regional-level competition later in 2023. Read more about SPP at https://ngpa.us/24494.
Bergman, Abbott take top honors at 2023 Best Warrior Competition
March 21, 2023
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett took top honors at the Virginia Army National Guard’s 2023 Best Warrior Competition, held March 16 - 19, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. 
Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct a medical infantry tactics exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 5-10, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange, which took place at a military installation in Dushanbe, was conducted in support of the Department of Defense's State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.
VNG conducts Tactical Combat Care exchange in Tajikistan
March 20, 2023
Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted a medical infantry tactics exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 5-10, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange, which took place at a military installation in Dushanbe, was conducted in support of the Department of Defense's State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.
Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct an advanced infantry tactics exchange with soldiers and representatives from the Republic of Tajikistan Feb. 26 - March 2, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.
VNG Soldiers conduct infantry exchange in Tajikistan
March 7, 2023
Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted an advanced infantry tactics exchange with soldiers and representatives from the Republic of Tajikistan Feb. 26 - March 2, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Rocky Mount-based 229th Chemical Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion. 329th Regional Support Group conduct a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives exchange with the Committee of Emergency Services of the Republic of Tajikistan Dec. 5 - 9, 2022, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
VNG conducts CBRN exchange in Tajikistan
Dec. 19, 2022
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Rocky Mount-based 229th Chemical Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives exchange with the Committee of Emergency Services of the Republic of Tajikistan Dec. 5 - 9, 2022, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. 
U.S. National Guard Soldiers from Virginia work through medical training lanes alongside their counterparts from the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense during the exercise “Regional Cooperation 22” Aug. 14, 2022, at a training site near Dushanbe, Tajikistan. RC 22 is an annual, multi-national U.S. Central Command-sponsored exercise conducted by U.S. forces in partnership with Central and South Asia nations. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)
VNG Soldiers participate in Regional Cooperation 22 in Tajikistan
Aug. 29, 2022
Approximately 300 troops from the United States, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Pakistan came together for the exercise “Regional Cooperation 22,” held Aug. 6-18, 2022, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The annual exercise, sponsored by U.S. Central Command and primarily conducted by National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, focused on enhancing multinational stability operations and promoting cooperation on counter-terrorism and joint combined capabilities among the U.S. and Central and South Asia, or CASA, nations.